ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Fighting for oral dominance: Good fungi keep bad ones in check in healthy mouths
• Autism, intellectual disability incidence linked with environmental factors
• Languages written to design synthetic living systems useful for new products, health care
• Roomy cages built from DNA could one day deliver drugs, devices
• More accurate data on thousands of years of climate change
• Turning raw natural gas into upgraded liquid alcohol fuel
• More to biological diversity than meets the eye: Specialization by insect species is the key
• Stumbling fruit flies lead scientists to discover gene essential for sensing joint position
• Better way to make unnatural amino acids devised
• Equation to describe competition between genes
• We must forget to avoid serious mental disorders, and forgetting is actively regulated
• Africans' ability to digest milk linked to spread of cattle raising
• 'Fluorescent' mouse can teach us about many diseases, drugs
• Extinct California porpoise had a unique underbite
• Commonly used pain relievers have added benefit of fighting bacterial infection
• New fossil species reveals parental care of young from 450 million years ago
• 'Velcro protein' found to play surprising role in cell migration
• Oxygen's different shapes described
• Gene variants protect against relapse after treatment for hepatitis C
• Tropical grassy ecosystems under threat, scientists warn
• Soft robotic fish moves like the real thing: New robotic fish can change direction almost as rapidly as a real fish
• Most of the sand in Alberta's oilsands came from eastern North America, study shows
• Origin of life: Simulating how Earth kick-started metabolism
• Genetic differences in female athletes with ACL injuries found in study
• Trapped by an avalanche, saved by an app
• Environmentally friendly fashion? Dress knitted out of birch cellulose fiber
• Virtual lab for nuclear waste repository research
• Africa's air pollution underestimated in climate change models
• Targeting bacterial cell division to fight antibiotic resistance
• 3-D X-ray film: Rapid movements in real time
• Heritable variation discovered in trout behavior
• Project hoping to end alarming decline of bobwhite quail
• Protein key to cell motility has implications for stopping cancer metastasis
• New wireless network to revolutionize soil testing
• Molecule plays important role in triggering immune response
• Fruit flies help uncover tumor-preventing protein complex
• Dingo poisoning should be stopped to protect native Australian mammals
• Infection is leading cause of failed prosthetic knee joints

Fighting for oral dominance: Good fungi keep bad ones in check in healthy mouths Posted: 13 Mar 2014 02:35 PM PDT Human mouths contain a balanced mix of microbes which, when disrupted, can lead to oral diseases. A new study compares the bacteria and fungi present in the mouths of healthy individuals with those from patients infected with HIV and illustrates why oral candidiasis (aka 'thrush') is a common complication of HIV infection.

Autism, intellectual disability incidence linked with environmental factors Posted: 13 Mar 2014 02:29 PM PDT An analysis of 100 million US medical records reveals that autism and intellectual disability rates correlate with genital malformation incidence in newborn males, an indicator exposure to harmful environmental factors. The study also finds that Autism and ID incidence decreases dramatically in states with stronger regulations on diagnosis.

Languages written to design synthetic living systems useful for new products, health care Posted: 13 Mar 2014 01:45 PM PDT A computer-aided design tool has been developed to create genetic languages to guide the design of biological systems. Known as GenoCAD, the open-source software was developed by researchers to help synthetic biologists capture biological rules to engineer organisms that produce useful products or health-care solutions from inexpensive, renewable materials.

Roomy cages built from DNA could one day deliver drugs, devices Posted: 13 Mar 2014 11:27 AM PDT A set of self-assembling DNA cages one-tenth as wide as a bacterium have been created by scientists. These DNA nanostructures are some of the largest and most complex structures ever constructed solely from DNA, and they could one day deliver drugs, or house tiny bioreactors or photonic devices that diagnose disease.

More accurate data on thousands of years of climate change Posted: 13 Mar 2014 11:27 AM PDT Using a new, cutting-edge isotopic tool, researchers have reconstructed the temperature history of a climatically important region in the Pacific Ocean. The study analyzes how much temperatures have increased in the region near Indonesia, and how ocean temperatures affect nearby tropical glaciers in Papua New Guinea and Borneo. Researchers also evaluated the accuracy of existing climate model predictions for that region. The findings illustrate that the region is very sensitive to climate change and that it has warmed considerably over the last 20,000 years, since the last ice age.

Turning raw natural gas into upgraded liquid alcohol fuel Posted: 13 Mar 2014 11:26 AM PDT Chemists have discovered of a new way to turn raw natural gas into upgraded liquid alcohol fuel. The process uses ordinary 'main group' metals like thallium and lead to trigger the conversion of natural gas to liquid alcohol. The process occurs at far lower temperatures than current industry practices. This could help reduce dependence on petroleum.

More to biological diversity than meets the eye: Specialization by insect species is the key Posted: 13 Mar 2014 11:24 AM PDT Scientists found greater diversity among insects in a rainforest in Peru than theory would predict. Scientists have been studying flies in the tropics for years, and now report evidence that there is more to a fly's ecological niche than where it lives and what it eats -- you have to look at what eats the fly, as well.

Stumbling fruit flies lead scientists to discover gene essential for sensing joint position Posted: 13 Mar 2014 11:24 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a mechanism underlying sensory feedback that guides balance and limb movements. If the findings can be fully replicated in humans, they could lead to a better understanding of and treatments for disorders arising from faulty proprioception, the detection of body position.

Better way to make unnatural amino acids devised Posted: 13 Mar 2014 11:24 AM PDT Chemists have devised a greatly improved technique for making amino acids not found in nature. These "unnatural" amino acids traditionally have been very difficult to synthesize, but are sought after by the pharmaceutical industry for their potential medical uses.

Equation to describe competition between genes Posted: 13 Mar 2014 10:43 AM PDT Biologists typically conduct experiments first, and then develop models afterward to show how data fit with theory. New research flips that practice on its head. A biophysicist tackles questions in cellular biology as a physicist would -- by first formulating a model that can make predictions and then testing those predictions. Using this strategy, this research group has recently developed a mathematical model that accounts for the way genes compete with each other for the proteins that regulate their expression.

We must forget to avoid serious mental disorders, and forgetting is actively regulated Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:32 AM PDT In order to function properly, the human brain requires the ability not only to store but also to forget: Through memory loss, unnecessary information is deleted and the nervous system retains its plasticity. A disruption of this process can lead to serious mental disorders. Scientists have now discovered a molecular mechanism that actively regulates the process of forgetting.

Africans' ability to digest milk linked to spread of cattle raising Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:31 AM PDT A new study -- constituting the largest investigation ever of lactose tolerance in geographically diverse populations of Africans -- investigated the genetic origins of this trait and offers support to the idea that the ability to digest milk was a powerful selective force in a variety of African populations which raised cattle and consumed the animals' fresh milk.

'Fluorescent' mouse can teach us about many diseases, drugs Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:31 AM PDT A mouse has been created by scientists that expresses a fluorescing 'biosensor' in every cell of its body, allowing diseased cells and drugs to be tracked and evaluated in real time and in three dimensions.

Extinct California porpoise had a unique underbite Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:31 AM PDT Millions of years ago, the coast of California was home to a species of porpoise distinguished from its living relatives by a lower jaw that extended well beyond the upper. In other words, the long-lost porpoise had a rather distinct and unusual underbite. Careful analysis of the fossilized Semirostrum ceruttii skull also shows that the porpoise's pronounced beak included innervated jaws, which the animal likely used to feel for prey along the ocean floor.

Commonly used pain relievers have added benefit of fighting bacterial infection Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:31 AM PDT Some commonly used drugs that combat aches and pains, fever, and inflammation are also thought to have the ability to kill bacteria. New research reveals that these drugs, better known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, act on bacteria in a way that is fundamentally different from current antibiotics. The discovery could open up new strategies for fighting drug-resistant infections and 'superbugs.'

New fossil species reveals parental care of young from 450 million years ago Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:27 AM PDT A portrait of prehistoric parenthood captured deep in the fossil record has been uncovered by an international team of scientists. The 'nursery in the sea' has revealed a species new to science -- with specimens preserved incubating their eggs together with probable hatched individuals. As a result, the team has named the new species Luprisca incuba after Lucina, goddess of childbirth, and alluding to the fact that the fossils are ancient and in each case the mother was literally sitting on her eggs.

'Velcro protein' found to play surprising role in cell migration Posted: 13 Mar 2014 09:25 AM PDT Studying epithelial cells, the cell type that most commonly turns cancerous, researchers have identified a protein that causes cells to release from their neighbors and migrate away from healthy mammary, or breast, tissue in mice. "Our goal is to improve outcomes for patients with metastatic breast cancer, and this work takes us one step closer to doing so," says the lead author.

Oxygen's different shapes described Posted: 13 Mar 2014 08:19 AM PDT Oxygen-16, one of the key elements of life on Earth, is produced by a series of reactions inside of red giant stars. Now physicists have revealed how the element's nuclear shape changes depending on its state, even though other attributes such as spin and parity don't appear to differ. Their findings may shed light on how oxygen is produced.

Gene variants protect against relapse after treatment for hepatitis C Posted: 13 Mar 2014 07:17 AM PDT Researchers have identified a gene that helps to explain why certain patients with chronic hepatitis C do not experience relapse after treatment. The discovery may contribute to more effective treatment. More than 100 million humans around the world are infected with hepatitis C virus. The infection gives rise to chronic liver inflammation, which may result in reduced liver function, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Even though anti-viral medications often efficiently eliminate the virus, the infection recurs in approximately one fifth of the patients.

Tropical grassy ecosystems under threat, scientists warn Posted: 13 Mar 2014 07:17 AM PDT Scientists have found that tropical grassy areas, which play a critical role in the world's ecology, are under threat as a result of ineffective management. This land is often misclassified, which leads to degradation of the land and has a detrimental effect on the plants and animals that are indigenous to these areas.

Soft robotic fish moves like the real thing: New robotic fish can change direction almost as rapidly as a real fish Posted: 13 Mar 2014 07:17 AM PDT Soft robots don't just have soft exteriors but are also powered by fluid flowing through flexible channels. Researchers now report the first self-contained autonomous soft robot capable of rapid body motion: a "fish" that can execute an escape maneuver, convulsing its body to change direction in just a fraction of a second, or almost as quickly as a real fish can.

Most of the sand in Alberta's oilsands came from eastern North America, study shows Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:27 AM PDT They're called the Alberta oilsands but most of the sand actually came from the Appalachian region on the eastern side of the North American continent, a new study shows. The oilsands also include sand from the Canadian Shield in northern and east-central Canada and from the Canadian Rockies in western Canada, the study says.

Origin of life: Simulating how Earth kick-started metabolism Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:27 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new approach to simulating the energetic processes that may have led to the emergence of cell metabolism on Earth -- a crucial biological function for all living organisms. The research could help scientists to understand whether it is possible for life to have emerged in similar environments on other worlds.

Genetic differences in female athletes with ACL injuries found in study Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:26 AM PDT For the first time, a new study identified varied female-to-male expression of ribonucleic acid molecules leading to proteins maintaining ligament structure, that could explain why females are more likely to suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury than males.

Trapped by an avalanche, saved by an app Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:24 AM PDT An app makes it possible for skiers with smartphones to find people buried in the snow after an avalanche. For those buried under the weight of an avalanche, every minute is precious. A person saved from a snow mass within 15 minutes has a 90 per cent chance of survival. But after 45 minutes, that chance diminishes considerably.

Environmentally friendly fashion? Dress knitted out of birch cellulose fiber Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:24 AM PDT The first garment made out of birch cellulose fiber using the Ioncell method is displayed at a fashion show. The Ioncell method is an environmentally friendly alternative to cotton in textile production. The dress is a significant step forward in the development of fiber for industrial production.

Virtual lab for nuclear waste repository research Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:24 AM PDT A nuclear waste repository must seal in radioactive waste safely for one million years. Researchers currently have to study them and their processes in real underground laboratories but a virtual underground laboratory will soon simplify their work.

Africa's air pollution underestimated in climate change models Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:24 AM PDT Human activity in Africa significantly contributes to air pollution. However, no detailed data regarding country-by-country pollutant emissions in the continent was available until now. To remedy this scientists mapped these emissions in Africa for 2005, before estimating them for 2030, using three scenarios. The researchers showed that the climate change models used by the IPCC underestimate Africa's emissions, which could account for 20-55% of global anthropogenic emissions of gaseous and particulate pollutants by 2030.

Targeting bacterial cell division to fight antibiotic resistance Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:22 AM PDT New research has found some compounds effective in blocking the proliferation of certain bacteria, raising hopes of a new class of drugs to combat antibiotic resistant infections.

3-D X-ray film: Rapid movements in real time Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:22 AM PDT How does the hip joint of a crawling weevil move? A technique to record 3-D X-ray films showing the internal movement dynamics in a spatially precise manner and, at the same time, in the temporal dimension has now been developed. The scientists applied this technique to a living weevil. From up to 100,000 two-dimensional radiographs per second, they generated complete 3D film sequences in real time or slow motion.

Heritable variation discovered in trout behavior Posted: 13 Mar 2014 06:22 AM PDT Populations of endangered salmonids are supported by releasing large quantities of hatchery-reared fish, but the fisheries' catches have continued to decrease. Earlier research has shown that certain behavioural traits explain individual differences in how fish survive in the wild. A new Finnish study conducted on brown trout now shows that there are predictable individual differences in behavioural traits, like activity, tendency to explore new surroundings and stress tolerance. Furthermore, certain individual differences were observed to contain heritable components. Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland, the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute and MTT Agrifood Research Finland studied the consistency and heritability of key behavioural traits in brown trout by comparing half-sibling fish of known parentage. The study was carried out in the Finnish Game and Fisheries Institute's Kainuu Fisheries Research Station in Paltamo. The research group discovered that the behavioural traits examined were individually repeatable, i.e., fish showed personality. Furthermore, certain behaviours related to stress tolerance, such as freezing, showed statistical heritability at a level of 14%. This means that non-random mortality related to stress tolerance both in fish farms and in the wild can modify the heritable traits of fish populations and thus lead to changes that are difficult to reverse. At worst, these changes might weaken the ability of fish to avoid predators and decrease the fisheries' catches unless mitigated by acknowledging the potential selection acting on fish personality. The article is currently in press in Behavioral Ecology and Sociology.

Project hoping to end alarming decline of bobwhite quail Posted: 12 Mar 2014 03:19 PM PDT The bobwhite quail, a favorite among hunters and wildlife enthusiasts alike throughout the United States, has literally flown the coop -- its numbers have been decreasing alarmingly for decades, but a groundbreaking project could prove to be a big move toward understanding bobwhite population trends.

Protein key to cell motility has implications for stopping cancer metastasis Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:01 PM PDT A key cell-movement protein called IRSp53, as described by researchers, is regulated in a resting and active state, and in a new study, they address what this means for cancer-cell metastasis. "We characterized how IRSp53 connects to the cell-motility machinery," says an author. "It does this by starting the formation of cell filopodia -- extensions that form when a cell needs to move."

New wireless network to revolutionize soil testing Posted: 12 Mar 2014 10:23 AM PDT A revolutionary sensor that can carry out non-destructive testing of soil samples has been developed by researchers. The sensor is capable of measuring the chloride (salt) in the soil moisture and linking up with other sensors to create a wireless network that can collate and relay the measurement readings. The network can also control the time intervals at which measurements are taken. The sensor is placed in the soil and measures the chloride levels in the soil moisture in a non-destructive way. These chloride levels make up a high proportion of the overall soil salinity.

Molecule plays important role in triggering immune response Posted: 12 Mar 2014 10:23 AM PDT The nucleoside adenosine -— a tiny chemical structure made up of a simple base linked to a sugar —- is critical for the regulation of bodily functions ranging from blood flow to tissue repair to sleep. Now, researchers show that adenosine is essential in promoting the development of a type of immune response that helps oust gut-infecting worms.

Fruit flies help uncover tumor-preventing protein complex Posted: 12 Mar 2014 07:35 AM PDT A protein complex that disrupts the process known as dedifferentiation, known to promote tumor development, has been uncovered by researchers. These findings have provided a critical and novel insight into a process that was previously poorly understood, and have implications for the overall understanding of NSCs and for the development of future cancer therapies.

Dingo poisoning should be stopped to protect native Australian mammals Posted: 12 Mar 2014 05:27 AM PDT Poisoning of dingoes -- the top predators in the Australian bush -- has a deleterious effect on small native mammals such as marsupial mice, bandicoots and native rodents, a study shows. Loss of dingoes is associated with greater activity by foxes, which prey on the small mammals. As well, the number of kangaroos and wallabies increases and their grazing reduces the density of the understorey vegetation where the mammals live, leaving them more exposed to predators.

Infection is leading cause of failed prosthetic knee joints Posted: 12 Mar 2014 05:27 AM PDT A new study found that infection is the leading cause of failed prosthetic knee joints, with elderly, female patients with a moderate number of comorbidities, representing the largest proportion of the revision population.

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